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Common Penalties for A DWI Conviction

If you're facing a DWI charge, you may be wondering what the possible penalties are. Under the new laws, common penalties include:

• Fines

• Jail time

• License suspension

• Installation of an ignition interlock device

Do you want to learn more about the DWI legal process? Reach out to William Quirk's office right away to discuss your case with a DWI lawyer.

More About New Jersey DWI Law

New Jersey has drastically changed its DWI laws over the past three months. On December 1, 2019, the NJ DWI laws were changed to move the state towards the national trend regarding DWI punishments.

Ignition interlock devices are machines that are installed in cars. In order to start a car, a driver has to blow an amount of air into the machine. The machine then determines if the person is under the influence of alcohol. If they have more than a certain amount of alcohol in their system, the car will not start. Once the car is operational, the machine will ask periodically for additional breath samples to ensure the person driving is not intoxicated.

These machines were required on DWI sentences in NJ in limited cases prior to 2019. Prior to December 1, 2019, New Jersey punished DWI offenders by taking the person's license for a period of time. There were no laws allowing those people to drive during that period to work or to school. Driving during that period of suspension could lead to jail sentences for individuals.

Research proved that this system was not actually a good deterrence for drunk driving. People continued to drive to work or for other reasons. People continued to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence of alcohol. The system was not working, so Governor Murphy instituted changes to the laws to better protect people in New Jersey.

The new laws require the installation of ignition interlock devices for all DWI convictions. However, in most first offense cases, the period of license suspension is much shorter than in the past. In some instances, the suspension period can be one day! Interlock devices will ensure people who are driving can get to work while protecting citizens by preventing someone from driving while drunk. It helps strike a balance between letting people who have made a one-time mistake continue to live and work while still protecting the public.

These new laws require lawyers who understand what can be done for defendants. The changes are massive and important. You need to reach out to an attorney who knows what is going on. William Quirk can help you with your DWI matter and understands the new law and how it affects you.

On December 1, 2019, the NJ DWI Laws Were Changed to Move the State Towards the National Trend Regarding DWI Punishments.

Ignition interlock devices are machines that are installed in cars. In order to start a car, a driver has to blow an amount of air into the machine. The machine then determines if the person is under the influence of alcohol. If they have more than a certain amount of alcohol in their system, the car will not start. Once the car is operational, the machine will ask periodically for additional breath samples to ensure the person driving is not intoxicated.

These machines were required on DWI sentences in NJ in limited cases prior to 2019. Prior to December 1, 2019, New Jersey punished DWI offenders by taking the person's license for a period of time. There were no laws allowing those people to drive during that period to work or to school. Driving during that period of suspension could lead to jail sentences for individuals.

Research proved that this system was not actually a good deterrence for drunk driving. People continued to drive to work or for other reasons. People continued to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence of alcohol. The system was not working, so Governor Murphy instituted changes to the laws to better protect people in New Jersey.

The new laws require the installation of ignition interlock devices for all DWI convictions. However, in most first offense cases, the period of license suspension is much shorter than in the past.

Individuals Who Have Never Been Convicted of A DWI in New Jersey or Any Other State Face the Following Penalties:

However, in most first offense cases, the period of license suspension is much shorter than in the past. Click here for the current NJ DWI Penalties.